US3874555A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
End panel for containers
Assignee: Rexam Beverage Can Co
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Filing: 1974-03-28
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1994-03-28
Abstract
Abstract An end panel for a container is disclosed herein. The end panel has a tear strip defined by a weakened area of material, which has a leading end adjacent the periphery of the panel and a base end permanently attached to the main body of the panel. The area of weakened material produces a minimum residual along a portion of the leading end and the residual increases in thickness from the leading end to a maximum thickness at the base end. The configuration of the elongated tear strip is generally U-shaped and has a maximum transverse dimension along the leading edge and progressively reduces in transverse dimension from the leading edge down to an intermediate portion. The tear strip also has an integral rivet formed adjacent the leading end and the rivet has a further surrounding weakened area which has its radius located on the center of the rivet and circumscribes an arc of more than 180* about the periphery of the rivet.
Inventors
- 👤 Leon M Patarini
- 👤 Joseph A Bronec
- 👤 Arthur P Zundel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:54
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D17/00; B65D17/28; B65D17/401; B65D17/4012
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
An easy open end panel having a weakened area defining a generally U-shaped, elongated tear strip in said end panel, said tear strip having a leading end and an opposite base end, said leading end being located adjacent the periphery of said end panel and said base end defining a permanent connection between said tear strip and said end panel, said weakened area producing a residual between said tear strip and said end panel, said residual having an area of minimum thickness on at least a portion of said leading end and an area of maximum thickness adjacent said base, said residual having an increasing thickness between said residual area of minimum thickness and said residual area of maximum thickness.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
An easy open end panel having a weakened area defining a generally U-shaped, elongated tear strip in said end panel, said tear strip having a leading end and an opposite base end, said leading end being located adjacent the periphery of said end panel and said base end defining a permanent connection between said tear strip and said end panel, said weakened area producing a residual between said tear strip and said end panel, said residual having an area of minimum thickness on at least a portion of said leading end and an area of maximum thickness adjacent said base, said residual having an increasing thickness between said residual area of minimum thickness and said residual area of maximum thickness.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An easy open end panel as defined in claim 1, in which said residual area of maximum thickness is approximately twice the thickness of said residual area of minimum thickness.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
An easy open end panel as defined in claim 1, in which said tear strip has a substantially circular connecting means adjacent said leading end for connection of an elongated tab thereto, and in which said residual has a progressively increasing thickness from a plane extending transversely of said elongated tear strip substantially at the center of said connecting means to said base end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An easy open end panel as defined in claim 3, in which said residual area of minimum thickness defines a first segment extending on opposite sides of a longitudinal center line through said elongated tear strip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
An easy open end panel as defined in claim 4, in which said residual area of minimum thickness has an elongated dimension of less than 0.25 inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
An easy open end panel as defined in claim 3, in which said residual area of minimum thickness is in the range of 0.002 to 0.003 inches and said residual area of maximum thickness is in the range of 0.004 to 0.006 inches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
An easy open end panel as defined in claim 3, in which said tear strip has an arcuate weakened line surrounding said substantially circular connecting means, said arcuate weakened line having its center concentric with the center of said connection portion and circumscribing an arc of more than 180*.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
An easy open end panel as defined in claim 3, in which the transverse dimension at said leading end is greater than the transverse dimension along said plane so that pivotal movement of said leading end about said plane will prevent movement of said leading end from one side to an opposite side said end panel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
An easy open end panel as defined in claim 1, in which said tear strip has an enlarged transverse dimension at said leading end and has a constantly reducing taper from said leading end to an intermediate portion of said tear strip and in which said tear strip has a substantially constant transverse dimension from adjacent said intermediate portion to said base end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
176 words
An easy open end panel cOnsisting of a generally circular main panel having a peripheral edge; a weakened area within said main panel defining an elongated tear strip extending generally radially from the periphery of said main panel, said elongated tear strip having a tear initiating end adjacent the periphery of said main panel and a base end located a substantial distance from the periphery of said main panel, and connecting means in said tear strip adjacent said tear initiating end for connecting a tab thereto, said connecting means being generally circular, said weakened area having a transverse dimension at said tear initiating end which is greater than the transverse dimension along a plane extending transversely of said tear strip through the center of said connecting means so that pivotal movement of a tab connected to said connecting means in a direction away from a main body of said main panel will rupture said weakened end along said tear initiating end and prevent movement of said tear initiating end to the opposite side of said panel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
176 words
An easy open end panel cOnsisting of a generally circular main panel having a peripheral edge; a weakened area within said main panel defining an elongated tear strip extending generally radially from the periphery of said main panel, said elongated tear strip having a tear initiating end adjacent the periphery of said main panel and a base end located a substantial distance from the periphery of said main panel, and connecting means in said tear strip adjacent said tear initiating end for connecting a tab thereto, said connecting means being generally circular, said weakened area having a transverse dimension at said tear initiating end which is greater than the transverse dimension along a plane extending transversely of said tear strip through the center of said connecting means so that pivotal movement of a tab connected to said connecting means in a direction away from a main body of said main panel will rupture said weakened end along said tear initiating end and prevent movement of said tear initiating end to the opposite side of said panel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
An easy open end panel as defined in claim 10, in which said generally circular connecting means has a generally arcuate area of reduced cross-section in said tear strip surrounding said connecting means, said arcuate area circumscribing an arc of greater than 180* and having its center concentric with said connecting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
An easy open end panel as defined in claim 10, in which said tear strip has a major transverse dimension adjacent said tear initiating end and has a constantly reducing taper, in plane view, from said tear initiating end toward said base end, said tear strip having a constant transverse dimension from said base end toward said connecting means and merging with said reducing taper between said connecting means and said base end.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
95 words
An easy open end panel as defined in claim 10, in which said weakened area defines a residual between said tear strip and said main panel, said residual having (1) a first segment of minimum thickness along a portion of said tear initiating end (2) second segments on opposite ends of said first segment, said second segments having a thickness substantially greater than said first segment, and (3) third segments between said second segments and said base end, said third segments each having a progressively increasing thickness from said second segments to said base end.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3717279A
Cited
US3738526A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |